Massachusetts Provincial Congress

Massachusetts Bay Provincial Congress of Deputies
Type
Type
History
FoundedOctober 5, 1774
DisbandedOctober 25, 1780
Preceded byGreat and General Court of Massachusetts Bay (disbanded)
Succeeded byGeneral Court of Massachusetts
Leadership
Governor
President of the Congress
John Hancock (1774-1775)
Joseph Warren (1775)
James Warren (1775-1780)
Clerk/Secretary
Benjamin Lincoln (1774-1775)
Samuel Freeman (1775-1780)
Structure
AuthorityGovernmental authority in Patriot controlled territory in Massachusetts
Meeting place
Constitution
Massachusetts Bay Charter

The Massachusetts Provincial Congress (1774–1780) was a provisional government created in the Province of Massachusetts Bay early in the American Revolution. Based on the terms of the colonial charter, it exercised de facto control over the rebellious portions of the province, and after the British withdrawal from Boston in March 1776, the entire province. When Massachusetts Bay declared its independence in 1776, the Congress continued to govern under this arrangement for several years. Increasing calls for constitutional change led to a failed proposal for a constitution produced by the Congress in 1778, and then a successful constitutional convention that produced a constitution for the state in 1780. The Provincial Congress came to an end with elections in October 1780.